Bože! independent catholic ideas, identity & theology
Science and Religion
Codex Coolness – Dead Sea Scrolls Online
You may recall a few years ago I pointed you towards a project digitising the Codex Sinaiticus – now you can view a digitised version of the Dead Sea Scrolls as well. Tweet
Free Will?
Free will is a core belief in Christianity – that is of course unless you are of the Augustinian bent. Indeed fatalism (or to use a more appropriate contemporary term – determinism) is considered sinful by late antique Christian writers. Recent explorations in to the nature of free will have shown that when you undermine [...]
Pseudo-science Is Pernicious
We should be as intolerant of pseudo-science, as we are of homophobia, and racism – so says Sir John Beddington the UK government’s Chief Science Advisor – and I could not agree with him more! Why should this matter to a theologian? Well to start with I live with a scientist (who is also a [...]
Belief In America – The Numbers
Creationism is a hot button topic in the US. It is a battleground issue in school boards, churches, and politics. A recent Gallup Poll shows that 40% of Americans believe in creationism. That’s an astonishing number when you consider that the facts on the ground overwhelmingly demonstrate the truth of evolution. Yes – this OC/IC [...]
Christianity & The Environment
Here’s an interesting vid (and its transcript) discussing the interrelationship between the environment, embodiment, and faith. Paul Collins, a former Roman Catholic priest speaks about the failure of Christianity to respond to the environment in a throughful manner, and the steps he envisions we might take theologically and in practise to re-establish the balance. Tweet
Science, Religion and “The End of God”
I’ve always been fascinated by the tension between science and religion. I don’t know what it is about this subject that peaks my curiosity so. Perhaps because I don’t see any tension between them and so I feel that I need to understand why others do. Perhaps because I can glimpse some aspects of the [...]
Bad Theology
Here in the UK the Guardian has a regular column called “Bad Science” which exposes . . . well, “bad” science, pseudo science, and “popular science” ideas – like homeopathy. Maggi Dawn has suggested on her blog the brilliant idea of a “Bad Theology” column. So what bad theologies, or pseudo theological ideas would you [...]
Reflecting On The Divnity Makes Your Brain Grow
This article is rather fun. Apparently reflecting on the divinity (or if you are Atheist – meditating) cultivates brain activity in the areas that promote compassion and a sense of well being. How cool is that! Tweet
No Pain No Gain
“Liberal” churches may be sabotaging themselves by reducing the commitment of their members – so suggests a recent report in New Scientist. The persecution of early Christians may have had a dramatic effect on the spread of Christianity because the sacrifices of martyrs and confessors instilled in others the idea of sincerity: “few would willingly [...]
Thinking Outside the Box – About the Constrictions of the Box
I read with interest this article by Dr. Murdo MacDonald Policy Officer for the Society, Religion and Technology Project for the Church of Scotland on that church’s stance on stem cell research. I then started asking about how this, and issues like it, are being explored in OC/IC communities. However, I have as yet, seen [...]
Ahhh Refreshing Breeze In the Debate Over Darwin
I’m fascinated by the whole “God does [does not] exist debate” raging between militant atheists like the Dawkins cabal, and the shrill screamings of Fundamentalist-Creationists. So like a crow drawn to shiny things, I’m drawn to read essays and articles about this debate – and usually fall over laughing. Ocasionally, however, there is a refreshing [...]
Evolution Weekend 2009
We are “signatories” to the Clergy Letter Project – an effort started by Michael Zimmerman of Butler University to give voice to believers (not just Christians) who think that the war over evolution and faith is misguided to say the least. I should add that Michael would like to see more OC/IC representatives on the [...]
Personhood, Worth, Speculating God
In a post two weeks ago I raised the question of when personhood begins. Andrew Brown, writing for the Guardian the other day describes a debate between the secular philosopher John Harris, and Professor David Jones of St. Mary’s College (Roman Catholic) which raised an even more useful (and perhaps even more unanswerable) question: what [...]
Being Reasonable
With the recent flood of media attention on the emerging “Fundamentalist Atheism”, and the renewed debate between faith and reason this recent New Scientist segment exploring the pros, cons, and pitfalls of reason is rather timely. Contributors include the Abp. of Canterbury, Noam Chomsky, and the artist Keith Tyson. Tweet
Seeking Explanation
Over the past few months I’ve been mulling over the question: “Why believe”. Increasingly I like my partner’s answer to the question: because Christ’s teaching is compelling. That it is. But I am not entirely satisfied with this answer alone. So I’ve been very interested in the increasingly vocal debate – here in the UK [...]
Resources for Evolution Weekend
In the run up to Evolution Weekend we’ve been looking at some resources. This is a recent 88 page book produced by the National Academies Press and available online for free (both inline and as a PDF). The argument in part is that there is (or ought not to be) conflict between science and religion. [...]
Science & Religion Links
In preparation for the upcoming Clergy Letter Project weekend (8-10 Feb) I fell into this series of links and essays over at beliefnet. Tweet
Clergy Letter Project: Your Ideas?
Regular visitors will know that my little fellowship here in London is participating in this year’s Clergy Letter Project. Now in its third year, the project aims to explore the interrelationship between science and religion – as well as countering the growing fundamentalist mis-representation of our faith. What we are aiming to do is to [...]